Can beading and curling machine



J. EICHMAN AND E. J. WATSON. CAN BEADING AND CURLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 02c 15, 1920.

1,412,232.. PatentedApr. 11, 1922..

3 SHtETS-SHEET I.

J. EICHMAN AND E. J. WATSON.

. CAN BEADING AND CURLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC) 15,1920.

Patehted Apia 11,-1922.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P 3 x: R A Q m nmmnm J. EICHMAN AND E. J. WATSON.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Z?zv672ians;

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

CAN BEADING AND CURLING MACHINE. APPLICATkQN FILED 05615, 1920.

N ED s'rarss JOHN EIoHMaN AND EDGAR J. WATSON, or BUFFALO, NEW YoRx.

CAN BEADING AND CURLIN'G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d A 11 1922 Application filed December 15, 1920. Serial No. 430,960.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN EICHMAN and EDGAR J. WATSON, citizens of the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Can Beading and Curling achines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for beading and curling sheet metal cans, and the like.

It is the principal object of the invention to rovide a machine of this character by which these two operations are performed successively and expeditiously, with .a view of affording a material saving in time and labor and correspondingly reducing the cost of manufacture of such cans.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive machine which while performing. both of said operations, is simple and compact in construction and occupies comparatively little floor space.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of .a can beaded and curled by the machine. Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine showing the parts in their retracted or inoperative position. Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan View thereof. Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the beading chuck and die in their contracted or operative position. Figure 5 is a similar view of the curling chuck and die. Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on line 6-6, Fig. 2. Figure 7 is a fragmentary verticaltransverse section on line 7--7, Fig. 3. Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 8-8, Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization this machine comprises a beading mechanism, a curling mechanism and means for successively feed ing the cans to these mechanisms.

In Fig. 1 is shown a can 10 of ordinary construction having the usual bead 11 .adjacent the open end thereof and the customary curl or inwardly bent portion 12 at its open end both of which are produced by this machine. 13 represents the main frame of the machine which may be of any suitable con-' struction and which supports the working parts thereof.

Arranged above this main frame is the beadlng mechanism which is preferably constructed as follows 14 and 15 indicate the companion members of a rotary chuck or holder between which the can to be beaded is clamped and by wh1ch it is rotated at a high speed while being operated upon. The chuck member 14 1s removably secured to the inner end of a reciprocatlng rotary shaft or spindle 16 extending lengthwise ofthe machine and supported at its outer end in a fixed bearing standard 17 and adjacent its inner end in a bearlng standard 18 mounted on the main frame 13. The chuck member 15 is removably secured to the inner end of a similar reciprocating rotary shaft or spindle 19 supported at its outer end in a fixed bearing standard 20 .and adjacent its inner end in a bearing standard 21, similar to the standard 18. These shafts are rotated in unison and for this purpose are provided with pulleys 22, 23 which are connected by belts to a suitable source of power. The reciprocation of these shafts, to periodically brin the' chuck members together hold the can in position during the beading operation and to separate them for releasing the can when said operation is completed, may be with a gear rack '30 suitably mounted on the corresponding shaft 16 or 19. These shafts are moved forwardly or toward each other by the cams, the outward or receding movements thereof being effected by springs 31, each connected at its end to the lower .arm of the respective lever 25 and at its other end to the adjacent portion of the main frame- The shafts 16 and 19 are longitudinally movable relativel to the pulleys 22 and 23 Which are spline thereon. During the reciprocatory and rotary movements of these shafts the pulleys are held against longitudinal movement thereon, preferably by a tongue or lip 32 secured to the standard 17 or 20 and engaging a corresponding annular groove 33 in the hub of the respective pulley.

The chuck member 14 acts in the capacity of the male die of the beading mechanism and for this purpose, is provided on ts periphery with an annular head 35, with which the inner side of the can is adapted to engage. Adapted to co-operate w1th th1s male beading die is a female beading die or roller 36 provided with an annular groove 37 corresponding to the bead on said male beading die. As shown in Figs. and 6, this beading roller is arranged in close proximity to the member 14 and 18 mounted on an arm 38 carried by a horizontal rock shaft 39 disposed below the shafts 16 and 19. The rocking of said shaft 39 is preferably effected by a pinion 40 mounted thereon and meshing with a rack 41 carried by a vertically reciprocatory rod 42 connected at its lower end to a rock arm 43 fulcrumed at 44 to a bracket 45 secured to the main frame. This arm is provided at its free end with a roller 46 and is actuated by a cam 47 keyed to the shaft 28. This cam is properly timed to bring the heading roller into operative position when the chuck members are moved inwardly or to their operative position; and.

to permit its return to inoperative position when said chuck members are moved outwardly. The rod 42 is elevated by said cam to swing the beading roller to operative position while a spring 48 serves to return said rod and move said roller to inoperative position.

Any suitable means may be employed for successively feeding the cans to the beading mechanism, but the means shown in the drawings are preferred and constructed as follows Located on opposite sidesof the heading mechanism, and extending lengthwise of the machine, are two shafts 49, 49. which are supported in bearings formed in the respective standards 18, 21 and 20. Mounted on these shafts and extending transversely between the chuck members 14, 15 of the beading mechanism are opposing companion feed wheels 50, 50 which are adapted to be intermittently rotated and which successively receive the cans from an inclined feed chute 51 disposed above and extending rearwardly from said wheels. From the discharge end of this chute the cans are propelled or conveyed to the beading mechanism by these feed wheels, and then to the curling mechanism hereafter described. These feed wheels are provided with peripheral semi-circular seats or recesses 52 which are equidistant, there being four of such recesses for each of the feed wheels shown in the drawings. When any pair of companion recesses arrive opposite each other they form same diameter as the cans to be operated upon and it is while the cans are supported in this opening that they are beaded.

Any suitable means may be employed for intermittently rotating the shafts 49, 49 to cause the opposing sides'of the feed wheels 50, 50 to move downwardly at the same speed. The mechanism shown in the drawings for this purpose, Figs. 3 and 7, comprises a vertically reciprocating yoke 53 arranged at the right hand end of the machine and provided with inwardly facing gear racks 54 meshing with corresponding gears 55 mounted on the respective-feed shafts. This yoke is actuated by an eccentric 56 mounted on the shaft 28, the stra 57 thereof being connected with said yoke y a rod 58 passing through an opening in the main frame 13 of the machine. The gears 55 are loosely mounted on their shafts, their hubs being provided with clutch teeth 59 co-operatlng with similar teeth 60 on clutch collars 61 pinned or otherwise fixed on said shafts. Springs 62 normally hold the clutch members in engagement with each other. Upon the effective or upward stroke of the yoke 53, the gears 55 are rotated turning the feed wheels forward a step, while upon the downward stroke of the yoke, said gears are disengaged from said clutch collarsythereby allowing the feed wheels to remain stationary. For every revolution of the shaft 28,

the feed wheels are rotated a quarter of'a revolution. It is during the time that the feed wheels are stationary that the heading mechanism performs its work.

After being beaded, each can is conveyed by the front feed wheel of the pair to the curling mechanism which is arranged in front of the heading mechanism and which is preferably constructed as follows:

63 and 64 indicate the companionmembers of a chuck between which the can is adapted to be clamped or supported while being curled at its open end, this curling operation being performed while the can is stationary. The chuck member 63 is removably secured to the inner end of a reciproeating rotary shaft or spindle 65 extending lengthwise of the machlne and parallel to, but disposed in a plane below, the shaft 16. The shaft 65 is supported in bearing standards 66. The chuck member 64 is mounted on the inner end of a non-rotatable stub shaft or arbor 67 arranged for sliding movement in a bearing standard 68. The chuck member 63 is provided in its face with a recess 63*. Suitably j'ournaled in this chuck member are a plurality of grooved or curling rollers 69 which project beyond the bottom of said recess and are adapted to curl the upper edge of the can body. Theshaft 65 is rotated in unison with and at the same speed as the shaft 16. For this purpose, a

being preferably integral with the pulley 22. Splined on the shaft 65 is a gear 71 to which motion is transmitted from said car 70 through an intermediate gear 72. baid shaft 65' is also reciprocated in unison with the shaft 16 to periodically bring its chuck member into position for the curling operati'on. To accomplish this unitary movement of the two shafts, the shaft 16, which is actuated by the rock lever. 25, is connected 'with the shaft 65 by a coupling member or .yoke 165.

During the, reciprocatory and 'rotary movements of the shaft 65, the gear 71 is held against longitudinal movement thereon by a tongue or- 11 7 3 secured to the adjacent bearing standar 66' and engaging a correv sponding annular groove 74 in the hub of said gear. The gear 70 being integral with the pulley 22, is held against movement by '-'the tongue 32, as previously described. .The chuck member 64 forms the rest for 'ber.

'- the bottom of the can and is preferably yieldingly mounted with respect to the ro- "tary chuck member 63. As'shown 1n Flgs. 2 and 5, a coil spring 75 surrounds the arbor 67 and bears at one end against the adjacent v end of the standard 68 andat its other end I against the outer face of said chuck mem A collar '7 6 on the outer end of the' arbor limits the inward movement of said chuck member. By thus yieldingly mounting the latter, the can is not liable to be her is preferably knurled to prevent the can gfromrotating.

bent or crimped during the curling operation. The inner face of this chuck mem- Y-During the curling operation, the can rests with its lower side on a central supconveyor or other suitable means. Assume the parts to be in the position shown by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5, and by full lines in the remaining figures, in which the chuck members of the beading and curling mechanisms are in their separated or inoperative positions. While in these positions, the feeding wheels 50 are actuated and a can is delivered from the chute to a position in which it is in axial alinement with the op posing beading chuck members 14 and 15. Immediately after the can assumes this position, the rotating chuck members are automatically brought together clamping the can between them and rotating it. The beading roller 36 is thereupon forced against the body of the can, beading the same in an obvious manner, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. Upon the completion of this operation, the chuck members are separated and release the can, after which the feed wheels are again actuated, the front wheel propelling the can forwardly along the rail 77 to a position in which it is in axial alinement with the chuck members 63 and 64 ofthe curling mechanism. Immedlately after the can reaches this position, the chuck member 63 is moved inwardly, and the grooved rollers 69 of said first named chuck member curl the can as shown by full lines in Fig. 5. After this operation is completed, the chuck member 63 recedes vfrom its companion member and the can,

having been successively beaded and curled is then propelled forwardly by the front feed wheel and thence rolls by gravity along the rail 77 into a receptacle provided for this purpose.

It will be understood from the. foregoing that two cans pass through the machine at atime, one being curled while the other is being beaded. These operations, performed on the cans in one and the same machine, make it possible to materially expedite their manufacture and correspondingly reduce their cost.

While performing both operations, the machine is very compact and occupies a correspondingly small floor-space. It, moreover, requires no complicated or extended conveying mechanism between the beading and curling mechanisms, thus reducing the costv of the machine accordingly,

This machine can be readily adapted to cans of different diameter by substituting feed wheels with smaller or larger recesses and smaller or larger chuck members and adjusting the beading roller acccordingly.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a beading mechanism, comprising two opposing reciprocatory chuck-members adapted to receive a can between them, and a beading roller co-operating with one of said chuck-members, a curling mechanism comprising a stationary chuck-member and a rotary chuck-member adapted to receive a can between them, said last-named member being movable toward and from said first-named member and having a curling device, and means for conveying the can from said beading mechanism to said curling mechanism.

'2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a beading mechanism comprising a pair of companion chuck-members adapted to receive a can between them and capable of a compound reciprocating and rotary motion and a beading device cooperating with one of said chuck-members, a curling mechanism comprising a pair of companion chuck-members adapted to receive a can between them, one of the lastnamed members being capable of a compound reciprocating and rotary motion and having a curling device, means for transmitting the compound motion of said beading chuck-member to said curling chuck member, whereby they are actuated in unison, and means for successively conveying cans from one of said mechanisms to the other.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a beading mechanism comprising a pair of companion chuck-members adapted to receive a can between them and a beading device cooperating with one of said chuck-members, a spindle carrying the last-named chuck-member and capable of a compound rotary and longitudinal motion, curling mechanism comprising a pair of companion chuck-members, one of which is provided with a curling device, a spindle carrying the last-named chuck-member and capable of compound rotary and longitudinal motion, a yoke connecting said spindles to move in unison longitudinally, and means for conveylng cans from sald beading mechanlsm to said curling mechanlsm.

JOHN EICHMAN. EDGAR J. WATSON. 

